At the end of the first days play in Johannesburg,India had batted themselves into a decent position. The score read 255/5,their position looking even more robust because their captain was still at the crease. The stage was set for Mahendra Singh Dhoni to not just set his record right in conditions outside the subcontinent. This was his chance to ride home the advantage for his team. It wasnt to be though as Dhoni perished,poking at a Vernon Philander delivery leaving him. One that could have been left alone. His dismissal for 19 also set in the rot as India lost their four wickets for not much.

It wasnt the only time Dhoni set off a collapse or got out just when the situation called out for him to play a knock of significance. At Durban in the first innings,he and Ajinkya Rahane had helped India regain control with a 50-run stand for the fifth wicket. They had also taken India past the 300-run mark.

Then Dhoni,batting on 24,went chasing after another length delivery outside his off-stump with his unique walking shot. This time from a charged-up Steyn. Yet again the Indian skipper had fallen in the same fashion as has become customary of him in conditions where the ball moves around. The most disappointing of the lot was reserved for when India needed Dhoni the most. On the last day of the tour with the visitors hanging by the skin of their teeth to save the second Test and ensure that they walk away with a 0-0 verdict which would have been akin to a win for India.

The South African pacers had just finished their umpteenth spell on the day. Manning the attack now was Robin Peterson bowling from over the wicket into the rough,and hardly turning a ball. Just then Dhoni decided to use his forearms and muscle a length delivery outside his leg-stump over the mid-wicket fielder. Not only was the shot not on,it was also uncalled for considering the situation,especially with Rahane fighting tooth and nail at the other end to keep Indias hopes alive. The ball only went as far as Alviro Petersen at mid-wicket. Dhoni could only throw his head sideways in despair. Soon after,the Indian tail lived up to their reputation and was blown away.

Having dropped Ashwin for the second Test,the onus was on Dhoni to take up even more responsibility. But he had failed to do so,averaging 21 across both Tests. Just like he had in England and Australia,where he averaged below 30,Dhoni struggled to raise his game for his teams sake.

The most disappointing aspect probably was the fact that Dhoni kept getting out pretty much in the same manner.

While there were a number of impressive performances from a number of young batsmen,the much-required captains knock never came. Though he didnt drop any catches,Dhoni was also scratchy behind the stumps. India might leave South Africa with a number of young batsmen having established their credentials in foreign soil. Its high time that their captain,whose only overseas ton came in Faisalabad back in 2006,did so as well.

I think Dhoni's position is in question here this series he has not led from the front with the bat unlike his counterpart Graeme smith who has scored couple of gutsy 50's .His away record as captain in Tests is there to see,he is too defensive and runs out of ideas if the team is not in good position unlike sourav who used to rejuvenate the team from such position either by his astute captaincy or by playing a captain's knock.I think time has come to start evaluating him series by series from now onwards and it is the right time to hand over T20 captaincy to Virat Kohli and gradually the test captaincy and ODI captaincy by end of 2014 or after WC 2015.Because it is the norm that only the best player in the team can lead the team and with current form kohli fits the bill.